Sticker, condition monitoring system, method &amp; computer program product

ABSTRACT

A sticker for attaching to at least one part of a machine providing at least one rotating component to be monitored. The sticker having a vibration status indicator indicating when a vibration of the at least one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/407,032, filed Jan. 16, 2017, which claims the benefit ofSwedish patent application number 1650073-8, filed on Jan. 22, 2016, thecontents of which are both fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a sticker for attaching to a machinecomprising at least one rotating component that is to be monitored and acondition monitoring system for monitoring machine comprising at leastone rotating, which provides at least one such sticker and at least onedevice that is arranged to collect data from at least one such sticker.The present invention also concerns a method and computer programproduct for monitoring the condition of a machine comprising at leastone rotating component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Condition monitoring is the process of determining the condition ofmachines comprising rotating components while the rotating componentsare in operation. Condition monitoring enables the repair of problemcomponents prior to their failure and not only helps plant personnelreduce the possibility of catastrophic failure, but also allows them toorder parts in advance, schedule manpower, and plan other repairs duringdowntime.

Rotating components such as bearings are often used in criticalapplications, wherein their failure in service would result insignificant commercial loss to the end-user. It is therefore importantto monitor such rotating components in order to plan intervention in away that avoids failure in service, while minimizing the losses that mayarise from taking the machinery in question out of service to replacethe bearing.

The residual life of a rolling-element bearing is generally determinedby fatigue of the operating surfaces as a result of repeated stresses inoperational use. Fatigue failure of a rolling element bearing resultsfrom progressive flaking or pitting of the surfaces of the rollingelements and of the surfaces of the corresponding bearing races. Theflaking and pitting may cause seizure of one or more of the rollingelements, which in turn may generate excessive heat, pressure andfriction.

Bearings are selected for a specific application on the basis of acalculated or predicted residual life expectancy compatible with theexpected type of service in the application in which they will be used.However, this type of life prediction is considered inadequate for thepurpose of maintenance planning for several reasons.

One reason is that the actual operation conditions may be quitedifferent from the nominal conditions. Another reason is that abearing's residual life may be radically compromised by short-durationevents or unplanned events, such as overloads, lubrication failures,installation errors, etc. Yet another reason is that, even if nominaloperating conditions are accurately reproduced in service, theinherently random character of the fatigue process may give rise tolarge statistical variations in the actual residual life ofsubstantially identical bearings.

In order to improve maintenance planning, it is common practice tomonitor the values of physical quantities related to vibrations andtemperature to which a component, such as a bearing, is subjected inoperational use, so as to be able to detect the first signs of impendingfailure.

In a condition monitoring system data is usually obtained from at leastone sensor provided on a machine housing close to the rotating componentthat is to be monitored and this data is usually transmitted in a wiredor wireless manner and displayed to an analyst. This can however resultin long transmission and display times and the data can be difficult todisplay or interpret. The transmission, display, storage andinterpretation of such data can require a significant amount of energy,time and expertise, and consequently decreases the rate at whichmeasurements and analyses can be made.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an improved way of monitoring amachine comprising at least one rotating component.

This object is achieved by using a sticker for attaching to a machinecomprising at least one rotating component that is to be monitored, i.e.directly to a part of a machine comprising at least one rotating, itshousing, or indirectly in the vicinity of a component part or itshousing. The sticker provides a vibration status indicator that isarranged to indicate when the vibration of the machine comprising atleast one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level.

Such a sticker can immediately attract the attention of an operator andallows a user to quickly and simply determine that the machinecomprising at least one rotating component is not operating in a waywhich may be detrimental to the at least one rotating component beingmonitored. Information concerning the vibration status of at least onepart of the machine comprising at least one rotating component duringoperation may namely be obtained merely by looking at the sticker,whereby a user and/or component manufacturer will obtain a graphicYES/NO answer to the question of whether a machine comprising at leastone rotating component is vibrating excessively during use.

Alternatively or additionally, an image of the sticker may be captured,by scanning or photographing the sticker and transmitting an image to auser and/or machine/component manufacturer for analysis using imagerecognition and/or image analysis for example and/or for storage. Usingsuch a sticker avoids the need to transmit and/or display and/or storeactual vibration data. Data processing times may be shorter and memorystorage requirements may be lower.

A user and/or a machine/component manufacturer can thereby be warnedthat the machine comprising at least one rotating component is operatingin a way which may be detrimental to the at least one rotating componentbeing monitored. Excessive vibration may be caused by poor installation,poor operating practices, such as misalignment, imbalance, lubricationfailure and contamination, excessive loads, excessive operating speed,fatigue failure, wear, overheating, corrosion and/or exposure tomechanical shocks etc. Such causes of excessive vibration may reduce theresidual life of the machine comprising at least one rotating componentif left uncorrected. The vibration status information obtained from thesticker may be used for determining when it is necessary or desirable tocheck, service or replace or refurbish a rotating component beingmonitored.

The word “sticker” as used in this document is intended to mean a pieceof material, such as paper, plastic or metal or any other suitablematerial or combination of materials. The sticker is arranged to bepermanently or non-permanently attached to at least part of a machinecomprising at least one rotating component that is to be monitored or inthe vicinity thereof, by means of adhesion for example. The vibrationstatus indicator is placed in a location where it may be seen and/oraccessed by a user or by a device that is arranged to collectinformation from the sticker, such as a device comprisingimage-capturing means.

According to an embodiment of the invention the vibration statusindicator provides a container containing fluid and a coloring agent,which can be any physical or chemical coloring agent, and which isarranged to change the color of the fluid or impart color thereto whenthe vibration of the machine comprising at least one rotating componentexceeds a predetermined level. The provision of color or change in colorshould be readily detected by the human eye and/or by a devicecollecting information from the sticker.

Alternatively or additionally, the vibration status indicator provides apiezoelectric element that is arranged generate electricity when thevibration of the machine comprising at least one rotating componentexceeds a predetermined level. The electricity may for example be usedto power a Light Emitting Diode (LED) that indicates that the vibrationof the machine comprising at least one rotating component has exceeded apredetermined level.

Alternatively or additionally, the vibration status indicator provides aprinted symbol, such as a grid, which is arranged to become blurred whenviewed or photographed when the vibration of the machine comprising atleast one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level.

Alternatively or additionally, the vibration status indicator provides amaterial that is arranged to detectably change one of its properties,such as its color, shape or size when the vibration of the machinecomprising at least one rotating component has exceeded a predeterminedlevel.

According to an embodiment of the invention the sticker provides amachine-readable label, such as a Quick Response (QR) code or bar code,which contains information about the machine comprising at least onerotating component, such as a serial number and/or type of the rotatingcomponent and/or information from a manufacturer. The informationcontained in this machine-readable label may be associated with datacollected from the sticker during the use of the machine comprising atleast one rotating component, whereby the performance of that machinecomprising at least one rotating component may be tracked and optionallyrecorded. Optionally the machine-readable label, if provided togetherwith a machine comprising at least one rotating component or rotatingcomponent, may be used as a counterfeit check by an end-user to checkthe authenticity of the machine comprising at least one rotatingcomponent or rotating component.

According to an embodiment of the invention the sticker provides atemperature indicator and optionally a temperature sensor that showsactual temperature readings, which provides an indicator element (atemperature scale or an LED for example) that is arranged to indicatewhen a temperature of the machine comprising at least one rotatingcomponent exceeds a predetermined temperature.

According to an embodiment of the invention the sticker provides atleast one alarm arranged to indicate an alarm condition. For example, anoptic and or acoustic alarm signal may be issued by a sticker and/or bya device collecting information from the sticker or by a processorprocessing information collected by the device when excessive vibrationand/or excessive temperature is detected.

According to an embodiment of the invention the sticker providesenergy-harvesting means to utilize energy generated by the machinecomprising at least one rotating component. Such harvested energy may beused to transmit simple digital information from the sticker.

According to an embodiment of the invention the rotating component thatis to be monitored is at least part of one of the following: a ballbearing, a roller bearing, a needle bearing, a tapered roller bearing, aspherical roller bearing, a toroidal roller bearing, a ball thrustbearing, a roller thrust bearing, a tapered roller thrust bearing, awheel bearing, a hub bearing unit, a slewing bearing, a ball screw, agear, or a component for an application in which it is subjected toalternating Hertzian stresses.

The present invention also concerns a condition monitoring system formonitoring the condition of at least one machine comprising at least onerotating component, which provides at least one sticker according to anyof the embodiments of the invention and a device that is arranged tocollect information from the at least one sticker. Information may becollected from the sticker continuously, periodically, randomly, onrequest and/or at any suitable time.

According to an embodiment of the invention the device is arranged tocollect an image from the at least one sticker.

According to an embodiment of the invention the condition monitoringsystem provides a user interface that is arranged to allow a user and/ormanufacturer to input information concerning the machine comprising atleast one rotating component and/or at least one rotating component,which inputted information is associated with the at least one sticker.

According to an embodiment of the invention the condition monitoringsystem provides a processor arranged to process information collectedfrom the at least one sticker.

According to an embodiment of the invention the condition monitoringsystem provides storage means arranged to store information collectedfrom the at least one sticker.

According to an embodiment of the invention the condition monitoringsystem provides and is arranged to provide a list of machine modelsand/or information about the machine models. A user of a conditionmonitoring system may namely be offered a list of machine modelscontaining one or more different types of machine, such as electricmotors, pumps, gearboxes etc. A user may select a machine that is to bemonitored from the list of machine models and link at least one rotatingcomponent of that machine to the machine using at least one sticker.

The present invention also concerns a method for monitoring a conditionof at least one machine comprising at least one rotating component. Themethod provides the steps of attaching at least one sticker according toany of the embodiments of the invention to at least one part of amachine comprising at least one rotating component, (optionallyassociating the at least one sticker with the machine comprising atleast one rotating component), and collecting information from the atleast one sticker in order to monitor the condition of the machinecomprising at least one rotating component.

The present invention further concerns a computer program product, suchas an application, that provides a computer program containing computerprogram code means arranged to cause a computer or a processor toexecute the steps of associating at least one sticker with at least onemachine comprising at least one rotating component and collectinginformation from the at least one sticker in a method according to anyof the embodiments of the invention, which computer program is stored ona computer-readable medium or a carrier wave.

The sticker, condition monitoring system, method, and/or computerprogram product according to the present invention may be used tomonitor any machine comprising at least one rotating component used inautomotive, aerospace, railroad, mining, wind, marine, metal producingor any other application in which excessive vibration of at least partof the machine comprising at least one rotating component is notdesired.

It should be noted that any feature of one embodiment of the inventionmay be combined with any other feature of any other embodiment of theinvention unless the description explicitly excludes such a combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will hereinafter be further explained by means ofnon-limiting examples with reference to the appended schematic figureswhere;

FIG. 1 shows a sticker according to an embodiment of the invention inboth the normal and abnormal operation of a machine comprising at leastone rotating component being monitored,

FIG. 2 shows a sticker according to another embodiment of the inventionin both the normal and abnormal operation of a machine comprising atleast one rotating component being monitored, and

FIG. 3 shows a vibration status indicator according to an embodiment ofthe invention,

FIG. 4 shows a condition monitoring system according to an embodiment ofthe invention, and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method according to anembodiment of the invention.

It should be noted that the drawings have not necessarily been drawn toscale and that the dimensions of certain features may have beenexaggerated for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1a ) shows a sticker 10 for attaching to at least one part of amachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component that is to bemonitored during normal operation of the machine 11 comprising at leastone rotating component where the vibration level of the machine 11comprising at least one rotating component does not exceed apredetermined level but lies within a normal range for that machine 11comprising at least one rotating component in that application. Thepredetermined level may be determined/selected by a manufacturer or userdepending on the machine 11 comprising at least one rotating componentand the application in which the machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component is used. A manufacturer will namely provide differentstickers 10 having different vibration status indicators 12 for use withdifferent components and/or for use in different applications. Amanufacturer may provide a suitable sticker 10 on a machine 11comprising at least one rotating component or rotating componentsupplied to an end-user or within the machine 11 or rotating componentpackaging.

During normal operating conditions neither the vibration level nor thetemperature of the machine comprising at least one rotating componentexceeds a predetermined level/value, but lies within a normal range fora particular component in a particular application. The predeterminedlevel may be determined/selected by a manufacturer or user depending onthe machine comprising at least one rotating component and theapplication in which the machine comprising at least one rotatingcomponent is used. A machine or component manufacturer may provide asuitable sticker 10 on a machine comprising at least one rotatingcomponent supplied to an end-user or within the component packaging.

FIG. 1b ) shows the same sticker 10 during abnormal operation of themachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component where thevibration level and the temperature of the machine 11 comprising atleast one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level/value andlies above what is considered to be a normal vibration/temperature rangefor that machine 11 comprising at least one rotating component in thatapplication. The vibration status indicator LED 12 lights up or changescolor indicating that the vibration of the at least one part of amachine comprising at least one rotating component that is beingmonitored has exceeded a predetermined level.

The sticker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 namely provides a vibration statusindicator 12 that is arranged to indicate when a vibration of themachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component exceeds apredetermined level, which predetermined level/value may be changeddepending on the machine model, application and/or operating conditionsin which the machine is used. The sticker 10 may be a paper labelcomprising an adhesive and its rear surface, whereby the sticker 10 maybe removably attached to the surface of a part of a machine 11comprising at least one rotating component by pressing the adhesivebacking of the sticker 10 against the surface. Alternatively, thesticker may be stuck to a surface in the vicinity of the machine 11comprising at least one rotating component that is to be monitored.

The sticker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 provides a vibration statusindicator 12 that is arranged to change color when the vibration of partof the machine 11 comprising at least one rotating component to whichthe sticker is attached 10 exceeds a predetermined level. For example,the vibration status indicator 12 may be arranged to be green whenvibration is at or below the predetermined level and to be red when thevibration exceeds that predetermined level. Such a change in color maybe readily detected by a user looking at the sticker or by a devicecollecting information from the sticker, such as a camera that capturesan image of the sticker 10 for image recognition and/or processing.

Alternatively or additionally, the vibration status indicator 12 mayprovide a printed symbol, such as a grid (not shown), which is arrangedto become blurred when the vibration of the machine 11 comprising atleast one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level, for examplewhen the features of the symbol are made to move at a speed of 7 mm/s ormore due to the vibration of the machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component being monitored.

The sticker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 also provides a machine-readablelabel 14, such as a Quick Response (QR) code or bar code, which containsinformation about the t least one rotating component that is installedin the machine, such as a unique serial number for the at least onerotating component and/or type of the machine or the at least onerotating component and/or information about how the machine or the atleast one rotating component should be used. A user may scan orphotograph this machine-readable label 14 and associate at least onerotating component being monitored with a particular machine in a plantand/or location of a machine, and/or a geographical location and/or anend-user and/or installation date and/or days/hours of use, so thatinformation collected from the sticker 10 and any other relevantinformation inputted by a user or manufacturer can be associated with aparticular rotating component in a particular machine.

The sticker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 further provides a temperatureindicator 16, namely a thermometer, which comprising an indicatorelement (a temperature scale) that is arranged to indicate when atemperature of the machine 11 comprising at least one rotating componentexceeds a predetermined temperature. In the illustrated embodiment thetemperature indicator 16 is also a temperature sensor that shows anactual temperature reading. The thermometer will indicate when thetemperature of the part of the machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component being monitored exceeds a predetermined temperature,such as 100° C.

The sticker 10 according to the present invention may be of any size,thickness, color and shape and may optionally contain more information,devices or sensors than those illustrated or described herein. Forexample, the sticker 10 may provide energy-harvesting means to utilizeenergy generated by a machine 11 comprising at least one rotatingcomponent being monitored, a battery or energy-generating means, such asa solar panel.

According to an embodiment of the invention once an excessive vibrationor temperature has been detected, a vibration status indicator 12 and/ora temperature status indicator 16 may be arranged to remain in the stateof indicating excessive vibration or excessive temperature respectivelyso that a user does not miss the fact that an excessive vibration ortemperature has been detected. However, according to an alternativeembodiment of the invention, once an excessive vibration or temperaturehas been detected, a vibration status indicator 12 and/or a temperaturestatus indicator 16 may be arranged to revert to the state of indicatingthat no excessive vibration or no excessive temperature have beendetected respectively.

FIG. 2a ) shows a sticker 10 according to another embodiment of theinvention for attaching to at least one part of a machine 11 comprisingat least one rotating component that is to be monitored during normaloperation of the machine 11 comprising at least one rotating componentwhere the vibration level of the machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component does not exceed a predetermined level but lies withina normal range for that machine 11 comprising at least one rotatingcomponent in that application.

FIG. 2b ) shows the same sticker 10 during abnormal operation of themachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component where thevibration level of the machine 11 comprising at least one rotatingcomponent exceeds a predetermined level and lies above what isconsidered to be a normal vibration range for that machine 11 comprisingat least one rotating component in that application.

The sticker 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 provides two LEDs labelled “VIB” 12and “TEMP” 16, which are arranged to light up when the vibration or thetemperature of the machine 11 comprising at least one rotating componentthat they monitoring exceeds a predetermined level, whereby the light isdetectable to the human eye and/or to a device that collects informationfrom the sticker 10.

A sticker 10 according to the present invention is used to monitor theoperation of at least one rotating component 28 in at least one machine11, but may also be used to detect faults such as imbalance andmisalignment of one or more machines 11, i.e. not only faults caused byat least one rotating component 28.

FIG. 3 shows constituent parts of a vibration status indicator 12 suchas the one illustrated in FIG. 1. The vibration status indicator 12provides a container 18 containing fluid 20, i.e. a liquid or gas, and acoloring agent 22 that is arranged to change the color of the fluidwithin the container when the vibration of the machine 11 comprising atleast one rotating component exceeds a predetermined level, whereby thechange in color may be readily detected by a user looking at the stickeror a device collecting information from the sticker 10 comprising thevibration status indicator 12.

In the illustrated embodiment the coloring agent 22 consists of coloredparticles, such as particles of a red pigment or small plastic spheres.In normal operation, the coloring agent will remain in the lower part ofthe container 18 behind a cover 24 that covers the lower part of thecontainer 18 (which cover 24 has been drawn to the right of thecontainer in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity). When the vibration of amachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component being monitoredexceeds a predetermined level, turbulence created within the fluid 20will cause the coloring agent 22 to mix with the fluid in the upper partof the container 20 above the cover 24.

FIG. 4 shows a condition monitoring system 26 according to an embodimentof the invention. The condition monitoring system 26 may be used formonitoring the condition of machine 11 comprising at least one rotatingcomponent 28, and provides one sticker 10 or a plurality of stickers 10according to any of the embodiments of the invention and one or moredevices 30 that is/are arranged to collect information from one or morestickers 10. One or more stickers 10 may be attached to each machine 11comprising at least one rotating component 28. Alternatively, a singlesticker 10 may be located between a plurality of machines 11 comprisingat least one rotating component 28 in order to detect vibration levelstherebetween.

The illustrated embodiment shows a condition monitoring system 26 formonitoring the condition of a machine 11 comprising two rolling elementbearings 28 during their use. The inner ring and/or outer ring of eachbearing 28 may be of any size and have any load-carrying capacity. Aninner ring and/or an outer ring may for example have a diameter up to afew meters and a load-carrying capacity up to many thousands of tons.The system 10 according to the present invention may however be used tomonitor the condition of one or more machines comprising one or morerotating components of any type, and not necessarily all of the sametype or size.

The devices 30 may be hand-held and/or portable or non-portable devicesthat can be carried or moved by a user, to scan or photograph eachsticker for example, or they may be fixed in a particular location tocollect information from one or more stickers 10. A device 30 may be amobile telephone, media player, Personal Communications System (PCS)terminal, Personal Data Assistant (PDA), laptop computer, palmtopreceiver, or camera. A device 30 may for example provide an applicationthat provides a computer program containing computer program code meansarranged to cause a computer or a processor 32 to execute the steps ofassociating at least one sticker 10 with at least one machine 11comprising at least one rotating component 28 and collecting informationfrom the at least one sticker 10 in a method according to any of theembodiments of the invention.

The condition monitoring system 26 may provide a processor 32 arrangedto process information collected from at least one sticker 10. Data maybe transmitted from a device 30 to a central, local or remote processor32 in a wired or wireless manner over a wireless communication network.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one device 30 may provide aprocess 32 for analyzing the data from a sticker 10. The processor 32may provide image recognition and/or image processing software. Thecondition monitoring system 26 may also provide and be arranged toprovide a list of machine models and information concerning each machinemodel, such as the position of at least one rotating component in amachine, alarm limits, behavior characteristics. These pre-definedmachine models may be used by an operator during the commissioning.

The condition monitoring system 26 may also provide storage means 34,such as a database, arranged to store information collected from atleast one sticker 10, whereby the information is preferably stored in away that it can be readily associated with a particular machine 11comprising at least one rotating component 28 being monitored. Thestorage means 34 may be maintained by a manufacturer of the machine(s)11 comprising at least one rotating component 28 being monitored. Thedata collected from a plurality of machines 11 comprising at least onerotating component 28 of a particular type used in the same or similarapplication(s) may enable a manufacturer to track the performance ofmachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component and/or extractfurther information about relationships between the performance ofdifferent machine 11 comprising rotating components of differentcomponent types and conditions of usage so as to further improve theservice to end-users.

The condition monitoring system 26 may provide display means 36, such asa display screen in any central, remote or local location, or in one ormore of the devices 30 that is/are arranged to collect information fromone or more stickers 10 so that a user and/or manufacturer can view databeing collected or stored data.

It should be noted that not all of the components of the conditionmonitoring system 26 necessarily need to be located in the vicinity ofthe machine 11 comprising at least one rotating component 28 beingmonitored. For example, the storage means 34 may located at a remotelocation and communicate with at least one processor 32 and/or at leastone device 30 for collecting information by means of a server forexample. Alternatively, the processor 32, display means 36, userinterface 30, storage means 34 may all be located in the same unit suchas a personal computer or a device 30 for collecting information from atleast one sticker 10.

The condition monitoring system 26 may even provide a user interface 38that is arranged to allow a user and/or manufacturer to inputinformation concerning at least one machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component 28 being monitored, which inputted information may beassociated with at least one sticker 10 and optionally stored withinformation collected from the at least one sticker 10 and/or sent to amanufacturer of the at least one machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component 28 being monitored. Such a user interface 38 may beincorporated into one or more devices 30 that is/are arranged to collectinformation from one or more stickers 10.

A sticker 10 according to the present invention may provide at least onealarm 40 arranged to indicate an alarm condition such as excessivevibration or an excessively high temperature. The alarm 40 may forexample issue an optical and/or acoustic signal when the vibration orthe temperature of a part of a machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component 28 being monitored exceeds a predetermined level.Such an alarm 40 may be arranged to be seen and/or heard via displaymeans 36 or via a device 30 that is arranged to collect information fromone or more stickers 10 instead of, or in addition to on a sticker 10itself. This alarm 40 could be used as a trigger to ensure that amachine 11 comprising at least one rotating component 28 being monitoredis checked immediately.

Notification of when it is advisable to service, replace or refurbishone or more machines 11 comprising at least one rotating component 28,or at least one rotating component being monitored by the conditionmonitoring system 26 may be made in any suitable manner, such as via acommunication network, via an e-mail or telephone call, a letter,facsimile, alarm signal, or a visiting representative of themanufacturer. Once a component 28 has been replaced, a new sticker maybe attached to the replacement component 28.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method according to anembodiment of the invention. The method provides the steps of attachingat least one sticker according to any of the embodiments of theinvention to at least one part of a machine 11 comprising at least onerotating component (which step may be carried out by a manufacturer oruser), optionally associating the at least one sticker with additionalinformation concerning the at least one machine 11 comprising at leastone rotating component, and collecting information from the at least onesticker in order to monitor the condition of the machine 11 comprisingat least one rotating component. The collected information may then beanalyzed, sent and/or displayed to a user and/or component manufacturer,and/or stored.

Further modifications of the invention within the scope of the claimswould be apparent to a skilled person.

1. A sticker for attaching to at least one part of a machine comprisingat least one rotating component to be monitored, the sticker comprising:a vibration status indicator indicating when a vibration of the at leastone rotating component exceeds a predetermined level.
 2. The stickeraccording to claim 1, wherein the vibration status indicator comprises acontainer containing a fluid and containing a coloring agent, whereinthe coloring agent changes a color of the fluid when the vibration ofthe at least one rotating component exceeds the predetermined level. 3.The sticker according to claim 1, wherein the vibration status indicatorcomprises a piezoelectric element generating electricity when thevibration of the at least one rotating component exceeds thepredetermined level.
 4. The sticker according to claim 1, wherein thevibration status indicator comprises a printed symbol.
 5. The stickeraccording to claim 4, wherein the printed symbol becomes blurred whenthe vibration of the at least one rotating component exceeds thepredetermined level.
 6. The sticker according to claim 4, wherein theprinted symbol comprises a temperature indicator or a grid.
 7. Thesticker according to claim 1, wherein at least one sticker comprises amachine-readable label providing information about the machine, theinformation comprising a serial number of the at least one rotatingcomponent.
 8. The sticker according to claim 1, wherein at least onesticker comprises a temperature indicator including an indicator elementindicating when a temperature of the machine exceeds a predeterminedtemperature.
 9. The sticker according to claim 1, wherein at least onesticker comprises at least one alarm indicating element when an alarmcondition occurs.
 10. The sticker according to claim 1, wherein at leastone sticker comprises an energy-harvesting component utilizing energygenerated by the machine.
 11. The sticker according to claim 10, whereinthe electricity is utilized to power a light emitting diode to indicatethat the vibration of the at least one rotating component exceeds thepredetermined level.
 12. The sticker according to claim 1, wherein theat least one rotating component comprises a ball bearing, a rollerbearing, a needle bearing, a tapered roller bearing, a spherical rollerbearing, a toroidal roller bearing, a ball thrust bearing, a rollerthrust bearing, a tapered roller thrust bearing, a wheel bearing, a hubbearing unit, a slewing bearing, a ball screw, a gear, or a componentsubjected to alternating Hertzian stresses.
 13. A condition monitoringsystem comprising the sticker according to claim 1, the conditionmonitoring system monitoring the at least one rotating componentutilizing the sticker, the condition monitoring system furthercomprising: a device collecting information from the at least onesticker.
 14. The condition monitoring system according to claim 13,wherein the device collects the information via an image from the atleast one sticker.
 15. The condition monitoring system according toclaim 14, wherein the condition monitoring system further comprises: auser interface receiving user input information concerning the machineor the component, the user input information being associated with theat least one sticker.
 16. The condition monitoring system according toclaims 13, wherein the condition monitoring system further comprises: aprocessor processing the information collected from the at least onesticker.
 17. The condition monitoring system according to claim 13,wherein the condition monitoring system further comprises: a storagemeans storing information collected from the at least one sticker. 18.The condition monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein thecondition monitoring system providing a list of machine models orinformation regarding the machine models.